A Year Ago Today

One year ago, we met Eden Joye for the first time. She arrived 2 weeks early at dawn. Until tomorrow a year ago, we wondered what her name was. Late at night on her birthday, while Ben slept in our hospital room, I held this new baby and talked to her about her name -- who are you?

She was Eden. Eden Joye, after her aunt Kaia Joye, whose birthday she arrived on and whose face she already resembled, and after her great-grandmother, Millie Joye.

Eden. When God imagined the most vibrant, thriving, fragrant, lush garden, he named it Eden and spoke it into being. Eden, God's delight. Eden, where people sat with God without boundary. Eden, the place of Shalom, fullness, peace. Eden Joye, the hope that this little one will grow to know the Joy of Eden throughout her life.

Ben's first time holding her
Silas with Eden
The two Joyes

One year old: